Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

Feb. 4, 2016

By Wiley Ballard

– Following a 16-game absence prolonged by nagging back pain, Derrick Favors has led the Utah Jazz to a season-long four-game win streak. Favors ranks 14th in the NBA in player efficiency rating while Utah sits on the brink of a playoff berth with 34 games remaining… Chris Bosh has flipped Miami’s four-game losing streak into a 5-1 surge over the last 10 days giving the Heat a final pus before the All-Star break… Overseas several former Yellow Jackets are leading their teams and one international superstar even has his own museum… All of that and more in this week’s Pro Basketball edition of Nissan #ProJackets Report.

Chris Bosh – Bosh delivered a team-high 20 points in Miami’s 93-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was Bosh’s 27th 20-plus point performance of the season as the all-star continues to keep Miami’s playoff hopes alive. Winners in four of their last five, the Heat sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings but just 0.5 games out of third place. Miami faces the Charlotte Hornets Friday night at 7 p.m.

Derrick Favors – Since returning from nagging back pain, Favors has kick-started Utah’s season-long four game winning streak. In his last five games Favors is shooting above 50 percent from the field and averaging 15 points per game. Last night the resurgent big man scored 16 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked six shots in an 85-81 victory over Denver. When asked about the origin of his back trouble, Favors offered an uncommon explanation. Next, Utah hosts Milwaukee Friday night at 9 p.m.

Jarrett Jack – Jarrett Jack underwent season-ending knee surgery last month in Manhattan. Officially diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the point guard anticipates a full recovery and plans to return for the 2016-17 season. Jack’s season averages in 32 games as the Brooklyn Nets starting point guard were 12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg and a team-high 7.4 apg.

Anthony Morrow – The Oklahoma City Thunder’s high-powered offense continues to embarrass opposing defenses scoring 100+ points in nine straight and 20 of their last 21. Although Anthony Morrow still struggles to get minutes the wingman is shooting over 40% from three-point land this year. Oklahoma City goes toe-to-toe with the defending champions, Golden State, Saturday night at 9pm on Saturday night on ESPN.

Iman Shumpert – Although the Cavaliers have won five of their last six, Shumpert has hit a bit of a rough patch offensively. The 25 year-old guard hasn’t made more than one basket in any of his last four games and is shooting just 36.4 percent over that stretch. Despite the offensive drought, the Cavaliers have long lauded Shumpert for his defensive prowess and he continues to deliver a positive plus-minus rating while on the floor. Cleveland looks to bounce back from a disappointing loss last night to Charlotte when they take on the Boston Celtics Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Thaddeus Young – Young added another double-double in last night’s loss to Indiana with 16 points and a team-high 14 rebounds. It was Young’s 22nd double-double in 50 games this season. With just 12 wins Brooklyn’s playoff fate has long been sealed, but the Nets have a chance to pick up a few wins this week facing struggling teams in Sacramento, Philadelphia and Denver. The Nets and Kings tip at 7 p.m. Friday night.

MORE @GTMBB ALUMNI IN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL

Alade Aminu – Hapoel Eilat (Israel)
Aminu is the star of the Israel League’s Hapoel Eilat basketball team through their first 18 games. The forward leads his team in scoring, rebounding and blocks while shooting a robust 64.0 pct. from the field. Aminu isn’t the only ACC performer delivering for Hapoel Eilat with former N.C. State star, C.J. Leslie, who averages eight points per game.

Tony Akins – Jeonju KCC Egis (South Korea)
Akins has adopted his Korean name Jeon Tae-poong (Tae-poong means typhoon). He is averaging 10.7 points and 2.6 assists per game in the Korean Basketball League. This past Sunday the 35-year-old logged 42 minutes in a 113-108 OT win. Akins added 19 points including a 7-for-7 effort from the free throw line.

Will Bynum – Guangdong Southern Tigers (China)
Bynum, a heralded scorer, is turning in one of the strongest overseas performances of any Yellow Jacket. The wily guard averages 17.8 points and leads his team in assists and steals for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Trae Golden – Etha (Cyprus)
A member a Tech’s starting five in 2012-13, Golden now leads the Michelin Etha Engomis Nicosia basketball team of Cyprus. The point guard leads his team with 24.7 points, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Stephon Marbury – Beijing Ducks (China)
No other former Yellow Jacket, much less any former college player, has had an international career quite like Marbury. Marbury and the Beijing Ducks have won three of the last four CBA titles. The veteran turns 39 this month but still averages over 30 minutes per game while scoring 18.1 points per night. As if that weren’t impressive enough, the Chinese basketball star inched closer to basketball immortality after Beijing opened a 300-square-foot “Marbury Museum” last December.

Zachery Peacock – JL Bourg Basket (France)
One of the key cogs in Tech’s 2010 NCAA tournament team, Peacock anchors the French front court for JL Bourg Basket. The 28 year-old leads his club in scoring with 16.6 ppg and rebounding with 6.6 rpg.

Demarco Cox – Hapoel Kazrin (Israel)
Mouhammad Faye – Openjobmetis Varese (Italy)
Kammeon Holsey – Grand Rapids Drive (NBA D-League)
Gani Lawal – Westchester Knicks (NBA D-League)
Anthony McHenry – Ryukyu Golden Kings (Okinawa, Japan)
Daniel Miller – Akhisar Belediye (Turkey)
Luke Schenscher – Townsville Crocodiles (Australia)
Jeremis Smith – Hapoel Holon (Israel)
Mfon Udofia – Siarka (Poland)
Mario West – Centro Juventud Sionista de Parana (Argentina)